One dead after horse and car collide

A middle-aged woman has died after her car struck a horse, killing the animal as well.

Police say the accident, south of Matamata, happened at 6.20pm on Hopkins Rd. The accident has also closed the road overnight, with police expecting the road will be re-opened during the early hours of tomorrow morning.

The car struck the horse, travelling a distance along the road before crashing through a driveway and into a tree.

Police were not expected to name the woman, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, until tomorrow. Her next of kin had been notified shortly after the crash, as they lived nearby and arrived at the scene quickly.

Police also planned to closed the road for a scene examination tomorrow.